Tucked away behind Richmond Green and just a few minutes’ walk from the town’s busy shopping area you can find the remains of Richmond Palace. Overlooking the River Thames, the palace, which was the home and final resting place of several Kings and Queens, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, was completed around 1501. It was built on the site of what used to be the Palace of Shene, which was also a royal residence built by King Henry V in the early 1400s. The name “Shene” means “beauty spot” in the Old English language, and you can certainly understand why when you see the site today. Unfortunately, the Palace of Shene was destroyed in a fire in 1497.
tucked away: 隠れている
remains: 遺跡
overlooking: ~を見下ろす~
final resting place: 永眠の地
be destroyed: 破壊された
The 500-year-old Tudor brickwork can still be seen on some of the buildings, including the gatehouse.
Tudor: イギリスのチューダー時代の (16世紀）
brickwork: れんが造りの壁
gatehouse: 守衛所
The buildings that surround the courtyard were known as the Wardrobe. As the name suggests, these were used to house the Royal Family’s clothing and possessions. Much of what is now called the Old Palace was rebuilt in the 1700s.
house: 所蔵する
possession: 所有物